Prince Harry returned to the High Court on Thursday to show support for actress Liz Hurley, as she took the witness stand in a long-running legal battle over alleged phone hacking and misuse of private information.
The Duke of Sussex, who is currently in London, sat in court as Hurley told the judge she believed “with all my heart” that her phone had been tapped and her personal data compromised. Her evidence forms part of a wider claim against Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Daily Mail.
Later the same day, Harry himself arrived at court to give evidence on the third day of the trial. Although he had originally been due to testify earlier in the week, the court timetable shifted after opening submissions from both sides wrapped up sooner than expected.
Harry is one of several high-profile figures bringing the case. The group also includes Elton John and his husband David Furnish, campaigner Doreen Lawrence, politician Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Hurley. All allege unlawful information gathering by the publisher.
Speaking after the hearing, Harry said the case was about accountability. “Today we reminded the Mail Group who is on trial and why,” he told reporters.
The most powerful moments of his testimony focused on the impact the years of coverage had taken on his family. At times visibly emotional, Harry said the press intrusion had turned life for his wife, Meghan Markle, into “an absolute misery.” He told the court the legal fight had been deeply distressing and made clear that what he wanted most was a sincere apology and genuine responsibility for what he says his family was put through.
